Dodge Journey

For 2020, the Dodge Journey is sent once more unto the breach in an attempt to woo you over with its low price and ... well, not much else. This small seven-seat SUV was once available in a multitude of trim levels and offered a strong optional V6 engine and available all-wheel drive. Now Dodge has stripped the Journey down and simplified it to only two trim levels and one available engine and transmission. It also can only be had in front-wheel drive.

Briefly ahead of its time, the Journey has been largely forgotten by Dodge and left with a low-budget interior, an underpowered engine and subpar driving dynamics. Even its low starting price isn't enough to make much of a case for the Journey since most of its main competitors can be had for similar money.

In its class, the Kia Sorento leads the way with more space, an abundance of features and an excellent warranty, with the stylish Volkswagen Tiguan coming in second thanks to its safety features and user-friendly tech interface. The recently rehabilitated Mitsubishi Outlander is a more distant third but is still a considerably better option than the Journey.

Which Journey does MatoCar recommend?

It is difficult for us to recommend the Journey at all. But if you have your heart set on this compact seven-seater, we'd go all in and opt for the Crossroad trim and add on the Popular Equipment Group. That ensures you get Dodge's excellent 8.4-inch Uconnect infotainment system, with navigation, heated front seats and a more powerful stereo. We used to recommend the V6 engine as a must-have but that's no longer offered.

For 2020, the Dodge Journey has been pared back to just two trim levels: SE Value and Crossroad. Option packages are also kept to a minimum, and their availability is linked to the trim chosen.

All Journeys are powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine (173 horsepower, 166 lb-ft) mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive has been available in the past, but all 2020 Journeys are front-wheel-drive.

Selecting the SE Value trim delivers a bare-bones experience, with manually adjustable cloth seats, 17-inch steel wheels with wheel covers, and a basic six-speaker audio system with a 4.3-inch touchscreen. Available to the SE Value trim exclusively are the Blacktop Package, which adds black exterior accents and black aluminum wheels, and the SE Value Popular Equipment Group, which includes a power driver's seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, satellite radio and three-zone climate control.

The Crossroad upgrades the seating surfaces to leather and brings a power-adjustable driver's seat. It also adds a sunroof and a larger 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system and dresses up the exterior with body-colored mirrors and 19-inch alloy wheels. The Crossroad's Popular Equipment Group includes navigation, a more powerful audio system, heated front seats and a heated steering wheel.